There has been much ado about the problems faced by the people of Fata. Some of the problems have now grown so complex (thanks to the indifference of those who could have tackled them in the past), that it will take years to resolve them. And, that too, only if the process is initiated now.

There are several other issues, which although seem formidable, but are so easy to take care of, that they don’t require military operations or heavy investments at all.

The problems in Fata are countless and diverse in nature – everything from justice and healthcare to education; all of them issues of an administrative nature which can be quickly resolved, but neither the past nor the present government appears to be concerned about them.

Fata has been in the past and still is geostrategically an important region, and its importance saw a meteoric rise after 9/11. Since it is located next to Afghanistan, whatever transpires within the neighbouring country affects the affairs of Fata.

Had Fata's issues been resolved, this current sense of severe alienation in the people of the region could have been eliminated. The residents could have been in a stronger bond with the State, because they are as, if not more patriotic than the rest of the citizens of this country.

Some stories from Fata:

Years ago, a political agent of the South Waziristan agency, Muhammad Azam, used to hold ‘Khuli Katcheri’ or open-house sessions, to listen to the complaints of the people. This was the routine every Friday; people used to put forward their complaints in front of the PA, and were able to get relief in return.

Why the PA could not remain on the post for very long is another matter.

Once, an elderly tribal man complained to Muhammad Azam about a relative who had been imprisoned for many years. The man insisted that the crime was not as big as the punishment served.

Upon verification, the political agent discovered the case was about the theft of a pair of plastic slippers, costing less than a dollar; the man accused had been in jail for years. Such are the sentences that a grade-5 officer can award to any resident of tribal areas.